TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Camel owners and trainers watch the 35th annual Selcuk Camel Wrestling Festival competition near Izmir, Turkey. The event usually draws large crowds of upto 20 thousand, although this year the numbers were lower due to recent security concerns and the threat of rain.
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January 2017. Selçuk, Turkey.
The annual camel wrestling tournament takes place in the western Turkish town of Selçuk, near the historic ruins of Ephesus.
Camel wrestlers from across Turkey travel with their animals to compete, socialise, drink Rakı, and eat camel sausage.
As the wrestling camels are all male, trainers prepare them by putting them in visual proximity to female camels, whilst they are chained and unable to do anything other than smell their scent, increasing their aggression prior to the match.
Betting is illegal, although competition is still fierce. Many fans and owners bet drinks on a winner, despite there often being no winner or loser in a match.
In 2017 the event was held under tight security (armed military and police can be seen in many images) due to the many terrorist attacks Turkey suffered during 2015/16, and continued threats to all crowded events.
TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. A spectator takes a selfie with a competiting camel at rest during the 35th annual Selcuk Camel Wrestling Festival.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Fans watch the 35th annual Selcuk Camel Wrestling Festival competition near Izmir, Turkey. The event usually draws large crowds of upto 20 thousand, although this year the numbers were lower due to recent security concerns and the threat of rain.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Camel wranglers prepare themselves and their equipment before the start of the 35th annual Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Camel meat sausage for sale around the competiting stadium of the 35th annual Selcuk Camel Wrestling competition, near Izmir, western Turkey.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Fans watch the 35th annual Selcuk Camel Wrestling Festival competition near Izmir, Turkey. The event usually draws large crowds of upto 20 thousand, although this year the numbers were lower due to recent security concerns and the threat of rain.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Competing camels wrestle during the 35th Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival. Camel trainers and owners stand close to the camels to ensure the wrestling doesn't get too violent.
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New York Times Travel - publication of this feature on the 'World Through A Lens' section. June 2021
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. A fan talks and kisses a competing camel at rest at the 35th annual Selçuk Camel Wrestling competition, near Izmir, Turkey
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Competing camels are walked to the wrestling arena, past fans and food stalls selling camel sausages and sandwiches at the 35th annual Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Fans watch the 35th annual Selcuk Camel Wrestling Festival competition near Izmir, Turkey. The event usually draws large crowds of upto 20 thousand, although this year the numbers were lower due to recent security concerns and the threat of rain.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Competing camels wrestle during the 35th Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival. Camel trainers and owners stand close to the camels to ensure the wrestling doesn't get too violent.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Competing camels wrestle during the 35th Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival. Camel trainers and owners stand close to the camels to ensure the wrestling doesn't get too violent.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Camels are kept in a warehouse used to store farming products after arriving in the town of Selçuk a day before the wrestling event. Owners and trainers take care of their camels, which can cost up to 100,000 Euros
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Competing camels enter the wrestling grounds through a security checkpoint at the 35th annual Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival. Turkey has faced numerous terrorist attacks over recent months, and security was high at the event.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Camels are kept in a warehouse used to store farming products after arriving in the town of Selçuk a day before the wrestling event. Owners and trainers take care of their camels, which can cost up to 100,000 Euros
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Camels are kept in a warehouse used to store farming products after arriving in the town of Selçuk a day before the wrestling event. Owners and trainers take care of their camels, which can cost up to 100,000 Euros
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Competing camels are paraded around the wrestling arena, before fans and the media at the 35th annual Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival.
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TURKEY, Izmir, Selçuk. Fans watch the 35th annual Selcuk Camel Wrestling Festival competition near Izmir, Turkey. The event usually draws large crowds of upto 20 thousand, although this year the numbers were lower due to recent security concerns and the threat of rain.
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